‘Creating a Healthier Scotland’ programme aims to start a ‘national discussion’ on the future of Scottish healthcare

The Scottish Government has launched a ‘national conversation’ on the future of health and social care services in Scotland.

The programme, titled Creating a Healthier Scotland, will bring together representatives from the Scottish Government, NHS, care sector, charities, patient groups and the third sector will all come together at different events hosted around Scotland between August 2015 and April 2016 to discuss what the NHS should look like in the next 15 years.

‘Earlier this year I announced my intention to hold a national conversation about the future of our health and social care services,’ Health Secretary, Shona Robison, said at the first event held in Dundee this month.

‘I want to seek agreement on how to make more progress in improving the health of the population, and on how our NHS and social care systems should develop by 2030 to continue supporting everyone to live well.

‘We want to know what really matters to people and their families when thinking about the future, and what support they need to lead healthier lives.

‘The NHS is a treasured institution and holds a special place in this country’s heart.

‘Nearly every single person has used or had some experience of the NHS in their lifetime and so it is absolutely right that we involve as many people as we can in the discussion about where the NHS will go in the next 10 to 15 years and beyond.

‘There will be many opportunities for people to get involved, and tell us what matters over the coming months.’

Creating a Healthier Scotland

Creating a Healthier Scotland focuses on three main questions:

What support is needed in Scotland to live healthier lives?

What areas of health and social care matter the most?

Thinking about the future of health and social care services, where should the Scottish Government’s focus be?

Shona Robison is calling on everyone in Scotland to have their say about the future of health and social care services to help the Scottish Government change some of its models of care taking into account the changing demographics in the country.

‘We have made some real progress in recent years – cutting waiting times, vastly reducing superbug infections in our hospitals and bringing together health and social care through legislation for the first time ever to deliver fully joined up services for people in Scotland,’ Shona Robison continued.

‘We have also taken steps to address immediate challenges – like investing £100 million to tackle delayed discharge, recruiting record levels of staff, investing more than £12billion in a financial year for the first time ever and setting out a new plan for emergency care.

‘Our vision for 2020 – that people should live longer healthier lives at home or in homely settings remains the right course to set.

‘But our approach to health and social care between now and 2030 cannot simply remain the same as we face increasing challenges and pressures and we must start discussing and planning for that now.

‘Most importantly, I want to ensure that as far as possible the outcome of the national conversation is turned into a practical reality.

‘This isn’t about producing just another vision – we want to take these views and put them into practice as quickly as we can.

‘Today marks the beginning of this conversation and I’m pleased to be here in Dundee to listen to a wide range of stakeholders, professionals and patients of the NHS.’

Seb Evans

Author at Dentistry.co.uk

Seb moved to FMC at the start of 2014. He is the editor of dentistry.co.uk, assistant editor of Dentistry magazine and editor of Dentistry Scotland.
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